About

Fashion with compassion

I am an active woman who enjoys and teaches dance. I love fashion and style. I’m in my 60s and think it’s important for women to keep up with fitness and fashion no matter what age we are.

Shopping ethically: caring about the working conditions of people in the garment industry, compassion for animals, concerned about our environment is MUCH more important than looking fashionable. Thanks to ethical companies, we can do both: look good while doing good!

I am vegan because of my love for all animals and my desire to live healthy as well as caring about this planet God made for us.

Carmen, I so wish that Brazil was more open to veganism. Like provide foods and stuff that support that type of a lifestyle.
I can’t believe that you’re 63. You certainly don’t look it.
🙂
So nice to meet you.
🙂 ❤

Hi Carmen,
I have a grand daughter -in-law who is vegan, and I have to confess that I’ve thought about becoming one several times, but that is as far as it gets. I’ve eaten meat for over 79 years and I’m almost afraid to change.

I didn’t read every one of these comments but I liked the positive atmosphere of your site. I did see where something was said about your age? Sixty-three??.You don’t look a day over thirty-three. I guess that’s a plus for vegan-ism. Maybe I’ll have to study up on it a bit more.

Keep on trying to change the world for the better, but don’t get angry with those who prefer not to change.

Hi Andy! I had a wonderful time in Seattle, the weather was great. You really must go to the underground tour and also ride the Great Wheel. It was a pleasure to meet you. I’m back in Ontario and it’s freezing! Brrrrr!!

His love in your selfless heart radiantly shines in your smile, in all you share and do. Your happiness is contagious my sister…you are a genuine example of what the blessing of lasting love can do to one’s life and how when shared with others it plants seeds which blossom within them also. I am sixty two, also, thanks for the joy your words add to an already wonderful day, and thank you for your visit! Hugs and blessings!

First I saw your blog name, then an image which I did not know was of you, so I started to scroll down to see a woman posing over 50 – and I had to realize it was actually you. My point with all that blabla is that you look absolutely amazing!
Happy blogging,
Anami 🙂http://www.anamiblog.com

Hi Carmen! I just read your personal story about how you became a vegan through Celeste’s blog. Thanks for sharing your experience and I have to say, you are absolutely gorgeous and so vibrant!! A true role model for veganism! 🙂 I would love to look and live like you when I’m in my 60s for sure!! I am slowly working my way towards a plant-based diet, and would like to ask you a question regarding it. How do you make sure you have enough iron in your body? I have now limited my intake of meat weekly and have cut out red meat for 7 months now, but just found out today from my doctor that I am deficient in iron! 😦 Can you please share with me how you supplement the iron for your body? Thanks so much in advance! 🙂

I’ve heard that anemia is not exclusive to vegetarians, anyone can have an iron deficiency, it could have been preexisting. Sometimes there are other causes, such as blood loss.

Spinach, broccoli and brussels sprouts are excellent. Lentils and black beans, brown rice and oatmeal are also good, as are dried apricots. However, absorption of iron is important, so eat iron-rich foods with foods that contain vitamin C (for example, broccoli with tomatoes). Add blackstrap molasses to smoothies.

For more information about iron deficiency, and other health issues, I recommend checking out Dr. McDougall’s site. He’s a great resource for plant-based nutrition.

This is eillen, we extremely love your blog wanna see if possible for cooperation. (This is a business inquiry letter about your blog), is it convenient for you to reply me via e-mail? Then we could talk further.

Please write down your blog link at the same time, then I will know it’s you.

Hi Carmen, I ‘found’ your blog via Celeste. I’m loving that at 61 you’re looking and feeling beautiful! I also love that you enjoy fashion as this, at times, is no easy feat when one comes up against unconsciously made pieces, and many of which are aimed for women in their early 20’s!

Most of all it looks like you’re having fun. Isn’t that what fashion is all about.

Glad you found me! Thanks for commenting! I agree–fashion is fun, it’s like playing dress-ups! I love it as a hobby and an artistic expression. Being vegan keeps me healthy and compassion gives me joy in my heart!

I notice that I’ve left a lot of notes for you here Carmen. Anyway, here’s another one. When I met with Jean, she told me the story of how you became vegan and it really moved me. I’m wondering if you would be willing to share this story on my blog. No pressure, just let me know if you’re interested. Celeste 🙂

Hey, Celeste! Jean told me that you met when you were in Seattle! I would be honoured to share my story, hopefully there’s not a deadline 😉 Thank you for asking. Jean and I are going to NYC next week and if I don’t get it written before I leave, I may send it from NYC.

Hi Carmen! I’m so excited that you’re willing to write your story for my blog. That’s wonderful!! There is absolutely no deadline. I’m fine if it’s not until you get back from NYC. And it would be great to meet up with you the next time you come to California. I know all the best vegan restaurants! Just let me know if you get out this way. Have a great weekend and have fun in New York. Celeste 🙂

Hey Carmen! I just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Liebster Award – congratulations! I love your blog and believe that you deserve this honor. To find out more about the award, check out my post, ‘Who Lies the Best?’ Yea, I had a little fun with the title of the award – haha!

Hey Celeste! Delighted that you thought of me for the Liebster Award! Guess I’m too slow, I was about to nominate you and Jean after receiving Greg’s but I see you have both been nominated too!! Well, you certainly deserve it!!!

Hey Carmen!
Thanks for stopping by our blog (:
It’s great to check out your page as well! You look great! I mean GREAT (:
you remind me so much of my mom who is also vegan like us and fit and healthy and looking young beyond her fifties! Keep it up (:
And here’s my curiosity….: do you expand your Veganism into fashion as well? I mean avoiding animal-made clothes (from leather, wool, fur, etc)? If so, we would be really interested to read something on this (: ..or if you have already written any post about it, please give us a link (:
Happy Blogging!
All the Best,
Sia from NewlyVeg

I have never bought fur. I do have some fake fur which is definitely fake – 100% polyester. Knowing the difference between leather and non-leather is easy for me. I can smell it. Fur and fake is just as easy for me. I know of the deception of foreign imports that use dog, cat and rabbit fur but I can spot it immediately.

I know some would disagree with me and believe even fake fur (meaning 100% polyester) is not good either. I like the idea of promoting fashion with compassion. You can buy shoes that look like leather, we don’t necessarily have to buy only canvas shoes. So in the same way, we can buy fuzzy fibers that feel soft but are truly synthetic.

What needs to happen is truthful labeling, if a garment says faux fur beware and be sure it’s not from animals. But if it says 100% acrylic or polyester, then it’s supposed to be that.

An excerpt from Wikipedia …

“In late 2006, HSUS broke the story of its investigation into the sale of coats trimmed with real fur but labeled “faux” or fake. Laboratory testing found that the fur came from purpose-bred raccoon dogs in China that were sometimes beaten to death and skinned alive … The investigation reportedly prompted several retailers including Macy’s and J.C. Penney to pull the garments from the sale floor. Legislation was introduced in the U.S. Congress to require that all fur jackets be properly labeled, and to ban raccoon dog fur.”

Thanks for your reply! We were really curious to know that, because many people tend to think that being vegan is all about diet, and not compassion. And clothing is such a big part of Veganism.. We’ve recently read about wool, which always seemed less evil than leather and fur production…and were terribly disturbed by facts ): and it’s great to know that more and more people get aware of all the aspects of being Vegan.
Cheers,
S & H

Hallelujah!! He is risen! What a wonderful note to wake up to this morning! So glad you found me and are following me. I’m following you too and will check out your blog as soon as we return from the Resurrection Celebration this morning!!

Hi Carmen! Thanks so much for following my blog – I appreciate it. Anyway, I wanted to check out your blog and say, “Hi.” I have to tell you, reading your blog couldn’t have been more timely for me. I’m 46, and am currently working from home. When I worked at an office I used to be the most fashionable woman there, but since I started working from home I’ve relaxed my standards (a lot!). This is a shame, because my figure has improved since going vegan and it would be nice to show it off. Anyway, I’ve been telling myself that I need to dress nice despite the fact that my dog is the only one besides me who will see me. I need to do it for me! If I look good, I feel better about myself and that’s important. Anyway, you and your blog provided that last push to get me to the mall. Now I’m sitting at my home computer wearing a bright orange top, white capri’s and some fun earrings. It may not be the height of fashion, but it’s a lot better than yoga pants! I look forward to keeping in touch!

I am picturing you with your bright orange top and white capris, very Californian and perfect for Orange County! Fashion jewellery is so much fun and you can buy many nice pieces without going broke. It’s true that if you’re home it’s easy to be lazy and get into a habit of looking frumpy. If you dress pretty, you’ll feel pretty. In fact, I have a draft about that.

Keep up the good work! I’ll be stopping by regularly to see what you’re wearing – I mean writing – and hope you’ll visit me, too!

It’s Glory from the Cambridge Vegan Raw Food Potluck on Monday. Finally got a chance to respond on your blog.

It was so nice meeting you, hopefully we’ll get to see more of each other at the potlucks. As you already know, I have been a vegan girl for almost 18 years now, and this lifestyle keeps blessing me over and over again.

I will post your story with your pics soon. I think it’s a great testimony to show people that a vegan life-style (especially raw vegan) is a healthy, happy choice. Hopefully, we can influence more people and the world will be a more loving and peaceful place.

Thank you, Josep-Maria. There was a reason that my blog was neglected over the summer last year, as you know now, my dad passed away.

You have been very kind with taking time to comment on my blog and you have truly encouraged me more than you know. You inspired me to continue. I always look forward to your comments which I appreciate very much!!

Family and friends (even the friends we have never met) are a blessing!!! 🙂
Death is a sad part of life.